Clock-controlled switch



Dec. 4, 1928.

H. P. M LAGAN CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Jan. 24. 1925 INVENTORHECTOR P. MACLAGAN il/Marl? 3644/ I .4 TTORNEV Patented Dec. 4, l 23.

UNETED stares 1.59 3121 PATENT'QFFI'CE.

HECTOR I. MACLAGAN, 01? OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 MCINTOSHELECTRICAL CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFDELAXVARE.

CLO CK-CONTROLLED SWITCH.

Application filed January 24, 1925. Serial No. 4,401.

My invention relates to an improved construction of devices foroperation by a standard clock construction to in turn control theoperationof an electric switch by which a desired electric circuit orcircuits may be controlled.

By my invention any standard clock construction may be employed toconstitute the timing elementof the device, my improved reference to theaccompanying drawings showing'a preferred embodiment in which Fig. 1shows myconstruction in front ele vation as applied to a standard clockmovement,

Fig. 2 shows in a view similar to Fig. 1 and diagrammatically, the clockmovementemploycd in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a lower edge view of a part of the construction shown inFig. 1. certain of the parts being shown in section to better illustratethe construction,

Fig. 4 shows in a view similar to 3 and to an enlarged scale the partsdirectly controlling the switch operation, and

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1. the casing of a standard clock is indicated at 10,provided with the usual main staff 11 carrying a. minute hand 12. Inplacing my devices on a clock of standard construction. the partsemployed to drive the hour hand from the main staff are removed and adisk 13 is rigidly secured to the staff 11 below the face 14 of theclock. The face 14 may be the regular clock face, to indicate theposit-ion of the hand 12. and an additional set of figures may beapplied thereto as indicated at 15 if desired, to indicate the number ofminutes that will elapse before the hand 12 reaches its twelve oclockindication, or in other 'words the position marked zero from'anydesiredsetting.

As indicated in Fig. 4 the disk 13 is provided on its lower surface witha-beveled face 16 extending nearly or quite to the outer edge of thedisk, said disk being provided in its lower face with a counterbore 17concentric with the axis of the staff-11. The counterbore 17 is providedto receive -the-upper end of a pin 18 carried by the end of a, lever '19located adjacent the staff 11.

As indicated infFig. 5, the counterbore-17 communicates at one side witha groove 20 having its bottom wall substantially in the same plane asthe bottom ofthe oounterbore 17-, which extends nearly to the outer edgeof the disk 13, the width of this groove being slightly greater than thediameter of the pin 18.

As indicated in Fig. 1 thelever 19 is pivotally mounted at 21 on thecasing IO-ofthe device and is connected by means of=a spring 22 with thecasing in a manner tending to move thepin 18 from the counterbore-l?through the groove 20, when the angular position of the groove permits.The spring 22 is of suflicient strength not only to move the lever 19,but also to move the parts connected with said lever and intended-foractuation thereby. For any position of-the disk 13 excepting thatbringing the groove 20 into the path of travel of the pin 18, movementof the lever 19 under the action of the spring 22 is restrained by theengagement of the pin-l8 with the cylindrical wall of the counterbore17.

The bearing 21 of the lever 19 also constitutes the pivotal support of aswitch blade 23, for which'reason the pivotal support 21 is preferablymount-ed upon a block of insulating material 24 supported by the casing10 of the device. In its closed position the switch blade 23 engageselectric contacts 25 and 26 mounted on blocks of insulating material 27and 28 respectively, which in turn are carried by the casing 10 of thedevice. Electric conductors 29 and 30 are connected with the contacts 25and 26 to form a part of the electric circuit to be controlled by thedevice. hen moved to its alternate position, the switch blade 23 ismoved from engage ment with the contacts 25 and 26 to interrupt electricconnection between them, and

thus openthe circuit controlled by the device. A spring 3135 connectedat its ends with the lever 19 and the switch blade 23 in a mannertending to move the switch blade 23 around tb'th upon its pivotalsupport 21, if for any reason the lever 19 is first moved on saidpivotal support in the samedirection. A stop pin 32 is carried by theSwitchblade 23 for engagement by thezlever 19 .to prevent movement ofthe lever 19 around to the left relatively-to the switch-blade 23-beyondthe relation-indicated: iniFi-g, 1, The spring 31 is .-ofconsiderablyless strength than the spring 22. The switch blade 23 preferably carriesa second stop-pin 33 -t o -limit the amountotpossible motion of thelever 19 around to the right relatively-to the switch blade 23, fromthe-relation of the parts indicated -in Fig. 1, without positivelymoving theswitch blade :23with it. The lever 19'lias connecteditheretoasetting rod .31 extending through a uide post 35 carried by the; casing10 of the evice, said settingrod having secured-theretoat itsouterfentha knob 36 for convenience of operation. As indicated. inFig.2,the stafi" '11 may convenientlybe part'ofan ordinary timing train,indicated diagrammatically to said figure, makingnnerotation an hour. aTheopera-tionofimy-improved-device is as follows: 7

:Assuming that't-he switch 23 is in its open position, andthat it=is'desired to set'ithe devicesato maintain the circuit connect-edwith-the wires 29 and 30 in 'closedcondition for a limited time, forexample fifteen minutesythe stafill is turned to thepo'sitioncorresponding to the desired time interval, for example-- to theposition-shown in Fig. 1, eitherabythie regular devices forming a partof the standard clock work mechanism provided for setting the hands, orby turningthe hand 12 itself. This moves the groove '20 from alignmentwith the 'path of travel of the pin 18, assuming that i-t-may have beenin alignment before settingthe hand 12, and in any event preventsimmediate release of the pin 18 when it is moved to its position tocause the closing of the electric circuit. lVith the hand 12in its setposition. the knob 36 is moved to the left for the relation of the partsshown in Fig. 1, to move the rod 34 through the post 35 thus moving thelever 19 around to the left on its pivotal support'21 against the actionof the spring 22. 4 he lever 19 is preferably made of spring material,for example spring brass or spring steel. and is thin enough to permitaready bending of the lever when the end of the pin 18 engagesthe beveledor conical surface 16 of the disk '13. This permits the pin 18 to springaround the projecting edge of the counterbore 17 when the knob 36 ismoved to set the switching mechanism. The spring of the lever 19 movesthe pin 18 into the counterbore 17 as soon assaidp'in hascleared theedge of said counter-bore, and the lever 19 is wide enough to maintainthe parts in their set p0 sitien indicated in Fig. 1 against the actionof the spring-l2. i r

At the same time-that the lever 19 is moved as described by the settingoperation, it moves the switch blade 23 around to the left on itspivotal support 21, due to the engagement between the lever 19 and thestop pin 32, the parts being so proportioned thatithe switch blade -ismoved :to fully engage-the contacts 25 and-26 at the same timethat thepin 18 passes the ed e of the counterbore 17 during the settingoperation. The switch blade 23 is thus held positively in itsclo3edposition until the predetermined interval. of time has elapsed, forwhich the =ci-rcuit through the wires 29 and 30 is to be maintained inclosed condition. At the end of. that interval, by the j rotation of thestaifi 11 and the disk 13, the groove 20-is brought .into alignment withthe path of travel oithe pin 18. which is thus freed from restraintbyZihe cylindrical wall ofthccounter-bore 17.- The tension on the spring22 thereupon movesthe lever 19 away from the stafi 11 untilit-engagesthe pin 33 carriedby the switchbla-dc 23, at the same time placing thespring 31 under tension. r a I The further action of the spring 22bhe'nmoves the switch blade from engagement with the contacts 25 an'd2'6 and.atthe instant of release of the switch-blade from=thezoimtacts, thespring 31 is effective to-quickly-move the switch blade away from thecontacm and in the same direction ofanotion as imparted to the lever 19by the spring 22. Mot-ionin this direction of the switch blade-islimitedby engagement of the stop pin '32 with' the lever 19. Motion ofthe lever 19 under the action of the spring 22 may be limited in anyJconvenient manner, for example-by the engagement of the knob 36 withthe post 35. The action of the switch referred to, thus provides a quickbreak at its contacts to save the contact portions fromundersirable-arcing.

My device above described is intended for use where an electric circuitis to'be controlled for a comparatively short interval thatinay berepresented by one complete revolution (or nearly so) of a staff of-astandard clock construction, for examplethe main staii, that is thestaff making one complete rotation in an hour. It will be observed thatthe parts employed to control the closure of the desired circuit and theparts requiring to be attached to the standard clock construction, aresimple in construction and readily attached to the clock, and that theyare located entirely outside of the frame work of the clock, thus makingthem applicable to clock work of any standard construction. It willfurther be observed that on account of the staff 11' having relativelyslow motion in any event, that a considrable' amount of pressure may beproducedibetween the pin 18 and the wall of the counter-bore 17 withoutmodifying the action of'the timing train materially, and that thereforethe spring. 22 may be given considerable tension, thus insuring positiveac-. tion of the switch mechanism when released by theti'ming train. Itwill be understood that I do not limit myself to=the=particular relationofthe-disk 13 to the'staif '11', as it may be applied tothe Sta-if ineitherway that is most convenient; it will understood that I do notlimit myselfto theparticular form. of switching mechanism employed, asany equival'ent'zmay'be used incarryingout my inventions The particularrequisite is that a member acted upon by a spring shall be employed,rest-rained substantially as described by a deviceicarried byaclock'stafi, and that there shall be connection. between the switch empldyed: and said member,such that theswitch isiactuated bytheispringswhen the member is freed from the restraint exercised by thecooperating device carricd by the timing stafiif..-.- .1 o

\Vhile I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment abovedescribed, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to thisexact construction as I may em iioy equivalents known to the art at thetime of the filing of this application without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a stall", devices forrotating said stall at a predetermined rate, a first member carried bysaid stafi and having a retaining portion and a releasing portion, asecond member for engagement with and disengagement from said firstmember, spring tending to move said second member from engagement withsaid first member, an electric switch, and connections between saidswitch and said second member actuating said switch by movement of saidsecond member to its disengaged position, said first member comprising adisk having a connterbore constituting its retaining portion and aclearance slot from said counterbore constituting its releasing portionand said second member comprising pivotally mounted lever having aprojecting portion for engagement with said first member.

2. In a time controiled switch, the combination of a clock driven staff,a disk carried by said staff and having a counterbore and releasinggroove, mechanism for engaging said counter-bore including a. springtending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electricswitch, and connections between said itch and said mechanism to opensaid switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising apivotally sup ported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore.

3.- :InJ a time controlled switch,'the combination of a clockdrivenstafi', a disk carried by said staff-and having a counterbore andreleasing -groove, mechanism for enga ing said counter-bore including'aspringten ing to move said mechanism to itsreleased position, anelectricswitch and connections between said switch and said mechanism toopen said switch upon'release of said mechanism,"- said mechanism,comprising apiv otally supported lever havinga pinl-for engagingsaidcounterbore,"-a nd said 'c'onnec'- tions' including-a springimpartingaquickbreakopening movement to said switch upon release ofsaidmechanism. A a 451 In "a time controlled switch, the combinati'on ofa clock driven "stall, a disk carried-by said stall? and havinga='counterbore and releasing groove, mechanism ior enga ing saidcounterbore'fincluding =a s'p'rin'g tening to move said mechanism to its'rele'ased position, a" pivotally mounted SWltOllblade, contacts forengagementby said; blade, a spring connectingsaidblade and said' mech'-'anism for quickly, moving :said blade on its release from said contacts,said mechanism comprising a pivotally supported lever havin a pin forengaging said counterbore, and stops for limiting relative movementbetween said lever and said blade.

5. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a clock driven staff,a disk carried by said staff and having a counterbore and releasinggroove, mechanism for engaging said counterbore including a springtending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electricswitch, and connections tween said switch and said mechanism to opensaid switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising apivotally supported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore,said disk having an inclined surface adjacent its counterborefacilitating engagement between said counterbore and said mechanism, andsaid lever being of spring material permitting movement of said pin oversaid inclined surface in setting said lever and switch.

6. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having a stallmoving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk for attachment tosaid staff, said disk having a counterbore and a releasing groove,mechanism for engaging said counterbore including a spring tending tomove said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, andconnections between said switch and said mechanism to open said switchupon release of said mechanism, said mechanisn'i comprising a pivotallysupported lever having a pin for engaging said counterbore.

7. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having a staffmoving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk for attachment tosaid staff, said disk having a counterbore and a. releasing groove,mechanism for engaging said counterbore including' a spring tending tomove said mechanism to its released position, an electric switch, andconnections beiween said switch and said mechanism to open said switchupon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a pivotallysupported lever having a pin for engaging said counter-bore, and saidconnections including arspring imparting a quick-break opening movementto said switch upon release of said mechanism.

8. In a switching mechanism for attachment to a clockwork having. astaff moving at a constant rate, the combination of a disk forattachment to said stall, said disk having a counterbore and a releasinggroove, mechanism forengaging said counterbore including a springtending to move said mechanism to its released position, an electricswitch, and connections between said switch and said mechanism to opensaid switch upon release of said mechanism, said mechanism comprising apivotally supported lever hava pin for engaging said counterbore. saiddisk having an inclined surface adjacent it counterbore facilitatingengagement between said counterbore and said mechanism, and said leverbeing of spring material permitting movement of said pin over saidinclined sui face in setting said lever and switch.

9. In a time controlled switcli,'-the--combination of a staff rotatableat a. predetermined rate, a rotary retaining'member carried by saidstaff, an electric switch, a lever extending from said switch to operateit, and a spring tending to move said lever ;to actuate said switch,said leverrhavingarigid portion directlyenga-ging said member andcommunicating the. forceof said sprin directly to said member andholding said ever? against the force of-said spring, s'aid'memher havinga clearance at one point freeing said lover of restraint by said.member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1925.

HECTOR P. MACLAGAN.

